My point, and I did at one time have one, even though (to paraphrase Verna in "Miller's Crossing") it was small and feeble and I can't remember the last time I used it, was that YARB himself is not being a little shit, but that the name of His Yarbness, in this phrase, is used in vain.

*sweating from the effort*

*leaves work to go lie down*

*thinks of something else to say and comes back*

Actually, this is an excellent phrase to use when attempting to induce Wordizens to fake umbrage. Is there a verb for purposely provoking a fake-umbrage-taking marathon? Why not?

This can't possibly be referring to The Yarbness himself, only an example of a phrasing that uses His Yarbness's name in everyday conversation (e.g. with one's kid). Taking the name in vain, though, it does appear...